Login
Register
Menu
Home
Help
Donations
Multitool.org Forum
»
Forum
»
Tool Talk
»
Edged Tools
»
Finger Choils
Hello Lurker! Remove this ad and much more by logging in.
Finger Choils
David Bowen
·
11 ·
327
« previous
next »
Print
Pages:
1
Go Down
David Bowen
Multitool Enthusiast
Admin Team
No Life Club
Posts:
3,622
Site Manager
Finger Choils
on:
May 01, 2024, 10:46:33 PM
What do you guys think of finger choils? Love them? Hate them? I got to thinking of a potential negative. What if I'm in an emergency situation, say a car wreck. I'm wanting to use to knife to cut through my seatbelt. When pushing into a cut your material will push to the heel of the blade. This would make it so not all of the edge is on the material resulting in a failed or partial cut. Thoughts?
Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
Merit Badges
nate j
No Life Club
Posts:
3,706
Re: Finger Choils
Reply #1 on:
May 02, 2024, 01:29:56 AM
Hate them.
I just think they are a waste of space. I would rather have the extra edge length sharp, or have the same sharp edge length and have the whole knife be shorter and lighter.
I guess they are supposed to allow one to choke up on the blade for finer control, but the same thing can be achieved by using the portion of the edge closest to the handle, or by pinching the blade between thumb and forefinger, depending on the situation.
I’m not too concerned with the scenario you describe, though. Theoretically, I suppose a similar thing could happen with a knife that simply had a longer tang, or even with the handle of the knife depending on design. In any event, while I haven’t had to cut any seatbelts yet, I would think following up with a simple draw cut should finish the job given a sharp blade.
Merit Badges
David Bowen
Multitool Enthusiast
Admin Team
No Life Club
Posts:
3,622
Site Manager
Re: Finger Choils
Reply #2 on:
May 02, 2024, 02:55:05 AM
I see what you mean. Was trying to come up with a scenario when said choil would be counterproductive. I can see how you could run out of edge and hit the tang or whatever.
Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
Merit Badges
Anthony R
Newbie
Posts:
17
Re: Finger Choils
Reply #3 on:
May 02, 2024, 09:22:49 PM
It depends. I love them on smaller knives when they are used to improve ergonomics. The Spyderco dragonfly is a great example of that. This knife works well in most peoples hands because of the choil.
IMG_0808.jpg
(Filesize: 62 KB)
On bigger knives with large comfortable handles I don’t care as much. Sometimes a choil on a bigger knife can feel like it’s forcing your grip either too close to the blade or too far away when the perfect spot would be right in the middle.
(if that makes sense)
David Bowen
Multitool Enthusiast
Admin Team
No Life Club
Posts:
3,622
Site Manager
Re: Finger Choils
Reply #4 on:
May 03, 2024, 02:55:53 AM
I agree on smaller knives I can came in handy, making up for that shorter handle. But it's lost on really big knives, like the Vosteed RSKAOS for instance.
Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
Merit Badges
Tasky
Hero Member
Posts:
794
Galaxy-hopping garbage-man
Re: Finger Choils
Reply #5 on:
May 04, 2024, 01:46:38 AM
I'm not an especial fan, but then I also don't consider myself to be a massive 'knife guy', really...
I do have a CRKT Pilar which has a choil. It works well for fine pointwork when cutting away from you, whereas pinching a blade only works when cutting down into something. This might be my large hands or just the design of the knife, but I also have a smaller Black Fox Kit and that one is an absolute smurf to use.
Merit Badges
stuntzombie
Jr. Member
Posts:
81
Re: Finger Choils
Reply #6 on:
May 14, 2024, 08:05:53 PM
I used to like them, but the older I get, the more I prefer choilless designs. It seems to me handle forward designs do the same thing without compromising blade length.
Enginears
Hero Member
Posts:
917
Re: Finger Choils
Reply #7 on:
May 14, 2024, 08:48:01 PM
It makes all the sense in the world on this horticulture blade, but for a regular knife blade I would say waste of space.
IMG_7051-compressed.jpg
(Filesize: 154.62 KB)
Merit Badges
Tuisto
Full Member
Posts:
125
Re: Finger Choils
Reply #8 on:
May 23, 2024, 09:47:47 PM
I absolutely love them, especially on larger knives or knives with a large belly. You can get much better purchase and choking up on the blade is useful in a lot of situations. Look at the difference in control on the Hinderer vs. the Sebbie. Or on a huge, 9" like the SYKCO or a weird shape like the Hossom. I think they're indispensable for a lot of knives and I always like to look for them on a knife I'm buying.
Choil 02.jpg
(Filesize: 38.18 KB)
Choil 03.jpg
(Filesize: 37.5 KB)
Choil 01.jpg
(Filesize: 49.42 KB)
Choil 00.jpg
(Filesize: 36.09 KB)
Merit Badges
IMR4198
No Life Club
Posts:
1,917
Re: Finger Choils
Reply #9 on:
May 23, 2024, 10:05:10 PM
My friend Lee's wife made a choil on one of her Zwillingswerk chef's knives. She put it in the joint of a turkey and twisted it sideways. Broke out a perfect semi-circle. She kept on using it like that, and indeed it looked like it had been manufactured that way. It bothered Lee and he wanted to have it reground. She wouldn't hear of it.
I personally don't like them. Even when they come from the factory that way. Best wishes. G
Merit Badges
Tuisto
Full Member
Posts:
125
Re: Finger Choils
Reply #10 on:
May 23, 2024, 11:29:04 PM
I think it really depends on the model of knife or the blade shape. For example, I've carried this Merlin for the last six or so years, rain or shine, clipped up high, close to my hip on my left pocket. There's no way on earth I'd want a choil on this style/blade shape knife. I think it would kill the usefulness of such a blade. Or for example on stiletto-type blades like this Protech Large Don. But on larger blades like the SYKCO DB-321 below and the Spartan Difensa (my favourite knife ever out of any I own) I think the choil is almost necessary. I'd be lying if I didn't say I wish that the ZT 0301ST (also below) had a choil (or, at least, not just a faux choil like it appears to have).
Choil 04.jpg
(Filesize: 80.53 KB)
Choil 05.jpg
(Filesize: 54.45 KB)
Choil 06.jpg
(Filesize: 40.96 KB)
Choil 07.jpg
(Filesize: 44.15 KB)
Merit Badges
Print
Pages:
1
Go Up
Multitool.org Forum
»
Forum
»
Tool Talk
»
Edged Tools
»
Finger Choils
Donations
Operational Funds
Help us keep the Unworkable working!
May Goal:
$300.00
Due Date:
May 31
Total Receipts:
$77.16
PayPal Fees:
$3.91
Net Balance:
$73.25
Below Goal:
$226.75
Site Currency:
USD
24%
May Donations
Community Links
Powered by
EzPortal
Search
This topic
This board
Entire forum
Google
Username
Password
Always stay logged in
Forgot your password?